# API Design: REST Principles & Route Architecture

REST in 60 Seconds

REST APIs use HTTP methods as verbs and URLs as nouns:

| Action | Method | URL | Example | |--------|--------|-----|---------| | List all | GET | /api/users | Get all users | | Get one | GET | /api/users/[id] | Get user by ID | | Create | POST | /api/users | Create a user | | Update | PUT/PATCH | /api/users/[id] | Update a user | | Delete | DELETE | /api/users/[id] | Delete a user |

The rule: URLs identify resources (nouns), HTTP methods define actions (verbs). Never use URLs like /api/deleteUser or /api/getUsers.

Building Route Handlers in Next.js